ATLANTA — July is fibroids awareness month and one woman is taking her pain and turning it into passion to help others.
LaToya Dwight, with The Fibroid Pandemic, knows the struggle and pain of living with fibroids all too well.
In a previous conversation with 11Alive, Dwight shared how she discovered she had fibroids in "a divine order" after she went to get her Mirena IUD - a birth control method- replaced. She said her OB-GYN couldn't find it, so she sent her to have an ultrasound.
"The ultrasound tech was able to locate it, and she asked, 'Well hey, how are your fibroids coming along?' And my response was, 'What's that?' I had no idea I had fibroids on my uterus."
That's when her fibroid journey began. Since then, she's decided to help other women with their journeys.
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors or growths will affect a majority of women in their lifetime. According to the Food and Drug Administration’s office of Women’s Health, factors such as age, family history, race, weight, hormones, high blood pressure, and your diet could all play a role in causing fibroids.
Some symptoms include heavy and irregular vaginal bleeding, an urge to urinate more often, pain during sex or in your abdomen or lower back, and reproductive issues.
This weekend marks the third annual Run F.A.R. 5K, aiming to raise more awareness about the condition. On Saturday, July 20, runners will lace up at Arabia Mountain in Stonecrest for a 5K, and what Dwight describes as a day of connection, community, and care.
On Sunday, July 21, the organization will hold the 3rd annual Fibroid Awareness Brunch at Reign Corp. Headquarters in McDonough. Dwight said both days are focused on raising awareness about fibroids and creating a supportive community.
In a conversation with 11Alive called “Let’s Talk About Fibroids," Dwight joined, Dr. John Lipman, the Founder & Medical Director of the Atlanta Fibroid Center and Dr. Madeline Sutton, the Founder and CEO of OneBrain4Health to talk about her experience and treatment options for those experiencing fibroids.
You can watch the full conversation below.
The panelists said that anyone who believes they have fibroids should talk with their doctor.
"You should start by seeing your gynecologist, absolutely," Sutton said. "You should start by having a full history and physical exam. During that history, it's very important that you share whatever quality of life concerns you have."
"If you're bleeding to the point that you're soaking your clothes, and it makes you uncomfortable to go out to different events, that's one of the most common things people say," Sutton gave as an example.
There are different options to treat fibroids, including medicines, IUDs, and sometimes surgery. Another option, Lipman said, includes the uterine fibroid embolization.
"It's a nonsurgical outpatient 30-minute procedure," he said. "Patients come into our center, 30-minute procedure. We knock out all of the fibroids from inside under X-ray guidance."
He said following the procedure, the symptoms start to go away.
If you are experiencing symptoms and want to learn more from our panelists, you can get in touch with them with the contact information provided below.
- Dr. Madeline Sutton : DrMadeline@onebrain 4health.com
- Dr. John Lipman : John@atlii.com
- LaToya Dwight: info@thefibroidpandemic.com